Raja's maiden ton builds platform for Whitgiftians
ALI Raja grabbed a maiden league century as Old Whitgiftians finished on the right end of a stalemate.
Neither side were able to force the issue with the ball on a good batting pitch which became easier as the sun came out after lunch and the game ended in stalemate.
Whitgiftians skipper Ali Raja played the innings of the day with a magnificent unbeaten 128.
Whitgiftians were without Em Raja for this game, who was replaced by Matt Stiddard.
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When Molesey skipper Paul Lawford won the toss he had no hesitation in asking Whitgiftians to bat first and make use of the heavy cloud cover and overnight rain which provided tailor-made conditions for seam and swing bowling.
Henry Glynn started with a maiden to Jono Morey but it was Gavin McMillan who struck first having Ali Ayyub caught behind first ball to leave Whitgiftians 0-1.
Stiddard joined Morey and the two youngsters added 35 before Stiddard was stuck on his crease to fall lbw to Glynn for 11.
Morey was playing well and took the score to 74 with Murti Hussain when the latter got a good ball from Glynn to be bowled for 17 but OWs suffered no further losses to go to lunch at 116-3 from 32 overs with Morey on 66, although he was dropped off both Paxton and Glynn when on 46 and 57.
Morey drove the first ball after lunch from Henry Nicholls to the extra cover boundary and then received a very high full toss that he hooked to deep backward square where Kieran Burge ran in and took an excellent low catch. The call of no ball was not heard so Morey departed for 70, his highest score of the season.
At this point Rory Caines joined Ali Raja and these two added 132 in 24 overs as conditions eased, Caines falling to McMillan for a fine 58 to leave Whitgiftians 252-5 after 57 overs.
Raja was by now approaching his hundred which he brought up after 62.1 overs and then proceeded to hit 28 from the next seven balls before declaring.
Molesey were to receive a minimum of 56 overs, a figure which was always likely to be more due to the presence in the Whitgiftians attack of Hussain.
Majid Khalil and Luke Fisher took the new ball against Glynn and Nicholls but it was the introduction of Hussain in the 12th over which brought first blood for Whitgiftians as he bowled Nicholls with his second ball for 19, Molesey 41-1.
Just before tea, the leg spin of Ayyub was introduced and he induced George Cairns to hit in the air straight to Raja at short extra to fall for eight and at the break the hosts were 73-2 from 20 overs.
Glynn and Simon Barrett then added 103 but took 28 overs in doing so and Molesey's hopes of a win disappeared.
Whitgiftians' chances were not helped when both were dropped in the 27th and 28th over off Khalil and Hussain respectively when on 45 and six at slip and short leg. Barrett fell for 47 off Morey and when Paul Lawford was bowled by Khalil at 194-5, Molesey decided to shut up shop in the chase for the winning draw.
Henry Glynn, who was carrying an injury, reached an excellent hundred and was eventually out for 109 with six overs to go.
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